Steve Bruce has urged Birmingham chairman David Gold to splash out "whatever it costs" to try and sign Fabrice Muamba from Arsenal on a permanent basis. The midfielder is on loan from the Gunners for the season and the 18-year-old has played a big part in City's Coca-Cola Championship promotion push. Muamba, who was also wanted by Sunderland's then-manager Niall Quinn last summer, has one year left on his contract at Arsenal and any discussions on his future will not take place until after the current campaign, but Bruce is keen to bring him to St Andrew's full-time. He is also aware the prospect of Premiership football is a big carrot to offer the player. Bruce, whose side visit Leicester tonight in their game in hand on automatic promotion rivals Derby and the Black Cats, said: "I've said to the chairman, whatever it costs, we must buy the kid if at all possible because he will only get better. "Yes, there are times when he stumbles over the ball and he is not the prettiest. But he has got a heart the size of a bucket. "He gave a fantastic performance this week and last week. To have an 18-year-old boy driving the team like he did is fantastic and fair play to the kid. "I'll do everything I can if we do go up to keep him here. He has got the attitude and the athleticism to play in the Premiership. He is the ultimate modern day player. "He goes box to box all day, wins the ball for you all day long and his passing has improved immensely since the start of the season when he came here. "We are going to wait to see what division we are in. "That's going to be the major, major thing for us If we can offer the kid Premier League football next year, and offer him a place in the side, then who knows. We will just wait and see." Blues striker Nicklas Bendtner has praised the contribution made by former Newcastle front man Andrew Cole, who set up the decisive second goal for the Denmark international in Saturday's 2-1 win over Southampton. Bendtner said: "You could see on Saturday that he has been a great player. He can give us that experience and knowledge. "He has shown he is ready for the challenge here and he has shown he wants this as much as the rest of us. He wants to fight with us and get us promoted, which is vital for us." Leicester's former Blues striker Geoff Horsfield will put sentiment to one side for a game from which the Foxes need a positive result to stay clear of the relegation zone. He said: "I don't want Birmingham not to go up and I had some great times there. "But I will be quite happy for them to leave the Walkers Stadium with nothing and for me to score the winning goal. "We need to win and if we don't then we are in a relegation battle. If I didn't try my hardest, I am sure I would lose respect from my colleagues and the supporters of both sides." Birmingham could be without captain Damien Johnson, who limped out of the first half of Saturday's game with a hamstring injury. Leicester's Danny Tiatto is again missing as he serves the second instalment of a three-match ban. If Birmingham draw or win they will leapfrog Derby into second place, while a Blues victory would also cut Sunderland's lead to two points. Tonight's other match sees Burnley take on Norwich looking to all but mathematically ensure their Championship status. | 
